Village & Panchayats

A gram panchayat (village council) is the grassroots-level of panchayati raj istitution formalised local self-governance system at the village or small-town level, and has a sarpanch/ Gram Pradhan as its elected head. Rural Part of Basti District is divided into 1247 Gram Panchayat/ Gram Sabha. Gram panchayats are panchayats at base level in panchayat raj institutions (or PRIs), governed by the 73rd Amendment, which is concerned with Rural Local Governments. Panchayat at District (or apex) Level District panchayat, Panchayat at Block Level is Khsetra Panchayat, Panchayat at GP Level is Gram Sabha. The gram panchayat is divided into wards and each ward is represented by a Ward Member, also referred to as a Panch or Panchayat Member, who is directly elected by the villagers. The panchayat is chaired by the president of the village, known as a Sarpanch/Gram Pradhan. The term of the elected representatives is five years. The Secretary of the panchayat is a non-elected representative, appointed by the state government, to oversee panchayat activities.